Help my puffer!

[Puffer_freak]

Please please please help me!

My puffer fish is dying and I don't know why! It seems that he has a lump on his belly, this is not that big, and not a feeding bump! He goes dark and sits on the bottom of the tank! The lump looks exactly like a wart on a human and also, all the skin on his belly seems to be coming off! HELP!!!

 

[ger87410]

What are your water parameters? Sounds like dropsy, but I don't know if puffers get dropsy... What type of puffer? I think most puffers need brackish water. Is your puffer in brackish or fresh? What size of tank?

 

[LadyMinion]

indeed, a little more info would be very useful.

Are there any other fish in the tank and how long has the tank been established?

 

[Puffer_freak]

Err...

It is a Green Spotted Freshwater Puffer, I have two other fish in the tank (both the same) and a different one recently died for no apparent reason. They are in brackish water (about 3g per liter). There is no aggression, though I don't know if this counts, as they are all juveniles.Nitrate seems to be between 10 and 25, PH is between 7,6 and and 8,0 (this is perfect).

By the way what is dropsy?

 

[ger87410]

3g is a bit small for a brackish setup. What is your sg? That needs to be fairly closely monitored especially since it's so small. Go here to fins out about some different diseases.

 

[appleblossom]

(about 3g per liter).

3g per litre, is that 3 grams per litre? What is the SG?

Also what are your readings for nitrIte and ammonia?

how long has the tank been established? Is it cycled? How big is the tank?

I also am not sure if puffers get dropsy.

"Dropsy
Symptoms
This disease is characterised by a swollen or hollow abdomen. Swollen areas may exhibit a 'pine-cone' appearance caused by the fishes scales sticking out. Fish may also appear off-colour and listless, and may stop feeding. The swelling caused by this disease may often be mistaken for a pregnant or egg-carrying fish. Gouramies and Cyprinids (barbs, danios, etc) are prone to this disease.

Causes
Dropsy is a condition with several possible causes. It may frequently be caused by internal infections by a number of different bacterial species. Viruses have also been associated with the disease. Poor water quality and/or diet may trigger the disease. If the problem has been caused by permanant damage to the kidney, then treating the infection will not eradicate the symptoms.

Possible cures
This disease must be caught early to maximise the chance of saving an affected fish, and even then the disease is difficult to cure. Previously, antibiotics prescribed by a vet were the only means of treatment for those countries (including the UK) where antibiotics cannot be purchased over-the-counter. There are now commercially available remedies which may help. These include Interpet #9 Anti Internal Bacteria and Waterlife's Octozin. The addition of salt (1 tsp/gallon) may also be beneficial.

Dropsy is not usually considered to be particularly contagious, so it should not spread to other healthy fish - dead fish should be removed immediately however, to avoid cannibalism. However, bear in mind that there is more than one cause of dropsy, so in some cases the infective agent could be contagious. It is preferable to carry out treatment in a hospital tank where available. "


The skin coming off does not sound like a symptom of dropsy, but it is diffiult to tell knowing little about diseases in puffers... the only disease I can find which refers to detached skin is slime disease:

"Slime Disease

This disease is also caused by protozoa e.g. Chilodonella, Ichthyobodo (Costia), Trichodina and Brooklynella species, and Trematodes (flukes) e.g. Gyrodactylus and Dactylogyrus species.

These parasites spend the whole of their life cycle on the fish, although infective young parasites may be released into the water to spread to new hosts. The parasites live on the skin and gill surface, eating gill and skin tissue debris. If their numbers increase rapidly, they may irritate the skin and gills, causing excessive mucus production and usually killing the fish by smothering the gills and hence suffocation. "

Hope thats some help...

 

[Fish-Noobie]

green spotted fresh water fish??? dwarfs? more info what do they look like whats the ammonia and such green spotted puffers should be kept in brackish tanks if u really need help contack pufferpack




and i dont think puffers can get dropsy since they have no scales!!!!!

and btw appleblossom i like ur avatar

 

[Puffer_freak]

Yah, 3g = 3 grams, and I think your right, and anyway, 3g isn't particularly brackish I know, but the man in the shop, said that they were running them on that, and that seems to be on par with all the other places I've visited that keep G-S-Puffers. Yes it is cycled, and it has been going for months...and months...and more months. I think he seems a little brighter today, (I posted it yesterday) so far I have put "Amquel" in the tank ' cause the nitrates were up, and Protozin (magic stuff, I can recommend it!) Thanks for all your help, I'll keep checking for any updates!

 

[GP]

Err...

It is a Green Spotted Freshwater Puffer, I have two other fish in the tank (both the same) and a different one recently died for no apparent reason. They are in brackish water (about 3g per liter). There is no aggression, though I don't know if this counts, as they are all juveniles.Nitrate seems to be between 10 and 25, PH is between 7,6 and and 8,0 (this is perfect).

By the way what is dropsy?

Green Spotted Puffers are NOT freshwater, they are brackish, which means they require a salt level of 1.005-1.008 for starters. First off, how big is the tank? Second off, don't use Amquel, stick to bigger water changes.. Amquel takes the oxygen out of your tank.. Do you know your ammonia readings? This bump could be from the other puffers, but it also sounds like dropsy.. Also, when he is laying down and black on his belly, this is PERFECTLY normal. When puffers sleep they lose color in their bodies, so as to become less detected by another fish.

Puffer_freak, I'm kind of worried about your fish, because it seems to me you didn't really do your research based on some of your questions on this forum. "I can keep plecos with GSP right?"

Anyway, I'd suggest you do extensive research before buying your fish..

 

[Puffer_freak]

I find the whole thing rather insulting really!

I sugggest you do your research properly before you buy fish

You see, GodricPuffer, I did!!! I researched for a couple of months before I even bought my tank, then I let it cycle, and, then and only then did I buy my fish! The whole plecos thing, I was looking for a second opinion on the matter! I am sorry, but I can't help but be upset, and I DO keep them on a slightly brackish set up - as you would know if you'd read it all properly and interpreted from my mistake with the whole 3g thing (I forgot that it ment 3 gallons too). I keep my fish in 20 gallon. Anyway you said the black thing was nothing to worry about, my ouffer is black ALL the time at the moment! Please help me, if I'd wanted criticism, I would have asked for it!
And I'm really sorry for this whole rant thing (especially to all those helpful people), but I got a bit carried away, and by the way Godric, I will take your advice on the Amquel, but what would you suggest on the Protozin (have only put in once so far).

 

[Fish-Noobie]

i think its from the ammonia my puffer went black and it died cause of ammonia ahh only if i could find a test kit faster......

 

[ger87410]

I've never used protozin. It looks like it's some sort of treatment for velvet and stuff. I would suggest against putting in any medication in the tank unless it's necessary. Any chemicals added to the water will cause stress at the very least and death at the worst. I only use amquel+ during a water change to remove the 8.0+ ppm ammonia in my tap water. I have to let it sit for a few hours before using it cuz it does take the oxygen out for a few hours. After 2 hours the amquel wears off. About the protozin, are you sure you need it? U got velvet, fungus, skin irritation, or ick? It looks like that's what protozin is used for.

 

[CFC]

You still havent mentioned the ammonia or nitrIte levels in the tank, a darkening of colour usually indicates a high level of ammonia is present in the tank. Puffers are sensative to water parameters and should not be introduced to tanks less than 6 months old.

 

[GP]

I'd go get some 5 in 1 test strips, and the ammonia testers. Also, some pics would help this matter alot.

 

[subopposite]

Are you using the right kind of salt for your brakish tank? You would need the marine salt, not the salt to treat freshwater fish. That could factor into this problem. Also, do you have a hydrometer to test the level of salinity in your tank? If these are GSP and young, I believe the salinity does not have to be too high, but when they get older the salinity should rise, at least that is the impression I have gotten from people around here. Also, might you be mixing in the salt right in the tank when you do water changes. If so, the new water and salt should be mixed in a seperate bucket first instead of just putting the salt in the tank. I know you have done research, but didn't know if you knew about the salt issues. I have also heard that most puffers sold have some type of infection before the customer even owns them, so sometimes it can be an interesting battle right from the beginning. I would listen to what CFC has to say...always seems to give direct and accurate advice. Good luck with your puffers.